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Children’s Mental Health Day: May 15th

Upcoming Events

No upcoming events scheduled...

It’s Time to End the Stigma!

What is stigma?

Webster & Merriam Dictionary describe stigma as the following:noun (plural stigmas or especially in sense 2 stigmata /-mətə, -ˈmɑːtə/): Mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person: the stigma of mental disorder to be a non-reader carries a social stigma.

Use “person first” vocabulary. When we say a person is schizophrenic, we make their mental illness fully define their identity. Instead, be clear that this is a disease that individuals manage and live with — “He is living with schizophrenia.”

There are many phrases and terms; “crazy,” “nuts”, “psycho”, “schiz”, “retard” and “lunatic” that may seem insignificant, but really aren’t.

While there may be times when it is too challenging or simply not possible to politely correct someone else’s insensitive use of language, you can always watch your own. (From the BringChange2Mind Campaign)

What Can YOU do to End Stigma?

Learn and share the facts about mental health and illness.

get to know people with personal experiences of mental illness

speak up in protest when friends, family, colleagues or the media display false beliefs and negative stereotypes

offer the same support to people when they are physically or mentally unwell

don’t label or judge people with a mental illness, treat them with respect and dignity as you would anyone else

don’t discriminate when it comes to participation, housing and employment

talk openly of your own experience of mental illness. The more hidden mental illness remains, the more people continue to believe that it is shameful and needs to be concealed.

Join our ‘YES’ Campaign

If you are ready to end the stigma, join our ‘YES’ Campaign. It’s easy! Simply take a photo of yourself with a self designed sign that says “YES”, and e-mail it to our Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Along with the photo, you will be asked to submit a release of media.

Photos from the ‘YES’ Campaign will be used in upcoming Public Service Announcements to be released for Children’s Mental Health Day 2013.

Going Green for Mental Health

Are you interested in showing support for ending the stigma around mental health? Get in touch with our Marketing & Communications Manager, Courtney Bridges, to ask how you can plan a ‘Going Green’ event through our We Eliminate Stigma Together (WEST) campaign.

About Us

The Vermont Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health exists to support families and children where a child or youth, age 0-22, is experiencing or at risk to experience emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
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